Bears place LB Lance Briggs on reserve/injured list

Briggs will miss the Bears' final four games of the season. He sustained the injury in Chicago's Week 12 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, and later missed the team's Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions.

It's widely believed that this season will be Briggs' last with the Bears. Earlier this month, Briggs said he believes he'll be playing elsewhere once his contract expires in March. The seven-time Pro Bowler, who has spent all 12 seasons of his career with the Bears, is making a $4.75 million base salary this year.

"It’s not like I’m going to magically show up after this year and they’re going to open the gates up for it. I understand it,” Briggs said to the Chicago Tribune on Nov. 5. “I understand this is probably my last year as a Chicago Bear, and this could be the last time I play the Packers.

"But for me, I really do enjoy my teammates. And it's been unfortunate to watch from the sidelines because I want to see them find success."

Briggs, 34, also missed three games in October with a rib injury. He returned for the Bears' Nov. 9 matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers, recording three tackles and forcing a fumble. For the season, Briggs has 35 tackles, one interception and the forced fumble.

The Bears drafted Briggs in the third round of the 2003 draft out of Arizona. For his career, Briggs has 1,178 tackles, 15 sacks, 19 forced fumbles and 16 interceptions.

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